Carton-opening device.



M.` J. MILMOE. cA'RToN OPENING DEVICE.

`APPLICAT10N FILED MAR. 4. |916.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

TED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

lIlVJICI-IAllilL J'. MILMOE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 F. B. REDINGTON COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CARTON-OPENING `DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.' 1s, 1917-.

Application filed March 4, 1916. Serial No. 82,074.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. MILMCE, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carton-Opening'Devices, of which the following is a specification. l

. This invention relates to machines for opening lcartons usually made of stii paper or cardboard and which are supplied to the trade in flattened form. When it is desired to fill such cartons with merchandise, the carton must be first opened and squared preparatory to the placing of the merchandise therein. In my prior Patent No. 1,177,719, April 4, 1916, is shown a machine for opening and filling such cartons, and the present invention relates particularly to a blade or finger to be used in connection with this and Similar machines. rThe invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

lIn the drawing,

Figure 1 is fragmentary plan view of a portion of a. carton opening and filling machine showing the present invention in its relation to the cooperating parte of the machine;

eig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing various stages of 'the operation of the carton opener blade;

Fig. is a, detail view showing theposition of the point of the blade as ity enters a ciesed carton;

Fig. i and Fig. 5. are plan and elevationai views respectively of a siightly modiiied forni of epener blade;

Wi il is 'a transverse sectional view of an opened carton showing in section the form of bade illustrated in lfigs. e and y The present invention cnnteinplates the opening of a iattened carton rst insert ing a blade between the sides aiereof and then operating the blade in i on junction with a relatively tixed stop or s to complete the op ing of the carton. n. biade or Enger 1 purpose is shown at 1U in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing. This blade is carried by an arm 11, to which it is secured by means of screws 11. The arm 11 is pivotally mounted von a rod 12 on which it is free to rotate, but the arm is constrained to move longitudinally with the rod 12 by means of a collar 13 rigidly secured to the rod, and the arm forms part of a rectangular frame- -work made up of pivoted levers 14, a longitudinal bar 15v and the cylindrical rod 1G. The entire rectangular framework is moved longitudinally with the rod 12 by means of a spur gear 1T and a rack 18. A link 19 has one end thereof pivotally secured to the bar 1G in such a manner that the bar 1G is free to slide longitudinally relative to the link. Pivotal movement is imparted to the rectangular framework and the arm 11 about the `rod 12 by means of the link 19, which is operatedby cam mechanism forming` no part of the present invention. By this mechanism, the opener blade 10 may be moved longitudinally to cause it to enter between the sides of a. ciosed carton, and may also be swung` transversely to the axis thereof to move a carton laterally.

The Hatte-ned cartons are held in a magazine, the lower portion of which is shown at 20 inlig'. 2. The sides of this magazine are provided with supports or ledges 21 upon which the edges of the liattened cartons rest. rihe cartons to be opened are provided with end iiaps, shown at 22 in Fig. In opening a. carton, the opener blade is first swung upwardly until it contacts with th'e lower side of one of these end taps, and is then moved axially to cause the pointed end 23 thereof to enter between the sides of the carlton, as shown in Fig. 3. Bui-ing this entering action,y the sides of the carton are forced apart for a slight distance and assume the position indicated in broken iines in Fig. 2. The arm 11 is'then moved about its pivotal support to swing the carton through the Various positions iliustrated in Fig. until the edges of the carton that were originally supported on the ledges 21strike the walls Ct a receiving stop or seat. This seat is provided wi n a base member 2l and an upright member preferabiy at approximately right angles to one another. As the arm 10 continues its downward movement, it draws the carton into the angle formed by the parts 24 and 25 and thus forces the carton to assume a rectangular position.

It should be noted that the finger l0 is considerably thickened in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the opere-r during its rotation about the rod 12. This shape of the opener blade provides what are, in effect, strengthening ribs at the opposite sides thereof running longitudinally of the blade. The blade itself is necessarily comlmratively long and slender, and it is therefore necessary to provide these strengthening portions to prevent the blade from bending or breaking in operation. It should also be noticed that the sides of the blade which enter into the corner of the carton receiving seat meet at such an angle with one another that they approximately fill the portion of this corner adjacent the vertex. of the angle thereof.

In the modified form of opener blade shown in Fi rs. at, 5 and (i, the blade is made approximate y triangular' in section. This is in effect the same blade as that shown in Fig. 2, but with the upper half of the blade removed, leaving only the lower strengthening rib,*-that is, the rib which forms the angular portion for entering the corner of the carton receiving seat.- The blade is also widened somewhat and the sides are made straight, with the exception that the corners are rounded. This forni of' blade gives a chisel or knife edge for entering' between the sides of the carton, as indicated at 26 in Figs. i and r`he lower edge of the blade beveled to form the opening erige '2G and the top of the blade is alsobeveled slightly, as indicated in Fig.

By this construction, l have provided an opener blade which 1na l .ie forced between the sides ot' a carton to partially open the carton, and which is of snliirient strength to withstand repeated lateral movements for fm'cing' tliepartiall)v ope'ced cartons laterally into position on the receiving seats. The particular shape of opener blade or finger comprised in the present invention is found to be especially eliicient for the pur` `pose for which it is designed, and capable of' meeting' the exacting conditions imposed upon such a blade where thousands of cartons are to be opened in rapid succession and where this operation is repeated day after day.

I claim:

l. In combination.y a blade for opening flattened cartonsfa carton seat, and mechanism i'or ol'ierating said blade to position cartons on said seat, said blade. being thickcnedl in a direction transverse to the direction of movement thereof.

'2. In combination, a blade for opening lt?.attenwl cartons, means 'tor moving said blade transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof to transport cartons, and a strengthening portion on said blade to prevent bending or breaking thereof.

3. In combination, a. blade for opening flattened cartons, means for imparting a transverse movement to said blade to transport cartons, and a strengthening rib extending longitudinally of said blade to prevent bendingr or breaking thereof. 7i

4. In combination, a blade for opening iiattened cartons, means' for imparting a transverse movement to said blade to transport cartons, an angular seat for receiving cartons so transported, and an angular rib extending longitudinally of said blade and adapted to fit int-o the apex of the angle formed by said seat.

5. In carton opening mechanism, an angular seat for receiving cartons, and a blade for moving cartons into said seat, said blade being shaped in cross section to approximately ill the portion of said seat adjacent the vertex of the angle thereof.

6. In combination, a blade for opening flattened cartons, a carton seat, meansfor operating said blade to position said carton in said seat, said blade being thickened transversely thereof to withstand the strains imposed thereon by said positioning opcra tion.

7. In combination, a carton opener blade, means for moving said blade longitudinally to cause said blade to enter a carton, and means for moving said blade transversely to position said carton, said blade beingy thickened in a direction transverse to said positioning movement to strengthen said blade.

S. In Icombination, a carton opener blade, meansfor moving said blade into a carton to be oiened. and means for ooeratin said blade while within said carton to complete the opening thereof, said blade being thickened transversely to cause said blade to withstand said opening movements.

9. In combination, a carton receiving seat, a carton opening blade, means for moving said blade longitudinally to cause said blade to enter a carton, and means for operating said blade while within said carton to open and position said carton in said receiving sait, said blade being thickened transversely thereof relative to said opening and seating movement.

l0. In combination, a carton opener blade, la() an angular seat for receiving cartons, and means for operating said blade to position cartons in said seat, said blade being Shaped to fit the angle of said seat.

l1. In combination, an angular carton receiving seat, and a blade for positioning oartons in said seat, said blade being approxi mately triangular in cross section.

l2. In combination, a carton receiving seat having two walls at approximately right 1 3@ angles to one another, and a blade for positioning cartons in said seat, said blade having two sides thereof at approximately right angles with ohe another and arranged to fit within the angle of said seat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specicaton, in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses, on this 2 day of March, A. D. 1916.

MICHAEL J. MILMOE.

Witnesses:

G. J. BECKER, FRED G. BROOKS. 

